Starting device



Dec. 10, 1940. H. L.. BOLDT STARTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 19259 mmw@ ATTORNEYS WITN ESS Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES Pll'ifi` FFICE.'

STARTING DEVICE Harold L. Boldt, Chase, Kans. `Appiicatam February 2o, 1939, seran 16,257,526

' 4 claims. (ci. 19a-.01)

My invention relates to starting devices and has particular reference to automatic control means whereby the starting motors of engines are actuated.

5" One object of my invention is to provide a starting device operated by a pedal Vwhich will become automatically disconnected relative to the starting motor as soon as the engine begins to turn under its own power.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which is simple in construction, durable in use and efficient in operation as well as. economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, partly in section, as applied to the starting motor and clutch shaft of an engine,

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the invention in disconnected relation between the starting motor and the clutch shaft.

In practicing my invention, I provide a starting motor, a section of the casing being illustrated at 5 as connected to a portion of a flywheel casing 6. The fly-wheel casing 6 has extending transversely therethrough a clutch shaft 1 for operating the clutch of an engine and on which is fixed an arm `8, it being understood that the clutch shaft is operated by means of a foot pedal in the ordinary manner. Pivotally mounted on the casing 5 of the starting motor is an arm 9 constituting a contact lever and shift yoke, the latter being of an ordinary construction for engagement with a starting switch I0 and for shifting the starter gear carried on the shaft of the starting motor into engagement with the ring gear on the fly-wheel of the engine. The foregoing described parts are typical of a motor vehicle engine and per se form no part of the present invention.

My novel form of starting device comprises an elongated housing I5 having its front end I6 pivotally connected to the arm 9 and the rear end pivotally connected to the arm 8 fixed on the clutch shaft 1 by means of a rod I1 slidably mounted in the rear section of said housing. The

housing has associated therewith a forwardly disposed inverted U-shaped carrier I8 pivoted or hinged at its front end to the front section of the housing. The carrier I8, at the front end thereof, is fashioned wtih an upwardly extending arm` I9, the latter being ,slidably pivoted at its upper end to the outer end of a rod 29 of a vacuum device 2l connected with the intake manifold of the` motor vehicle as hereinafter more fully set forth and said vacuum device operates to raise and lower the free end of the carrier I8 relative to said housing.

Potatably mounted in the rear end of the carrie I8is a roller 22 which `lies normally adjacent th ,i front end of the rod IIslidably mounted in 10 th 'ihousing The rear end of the rod II extends beond the rear end of the housing and is pivot illy connected to the arm 8 fixed on theclutch shaft.

The front end of the housing has fixed thereon 15 a sleeve 23 provided withan upwardly extending arm for supporting the vacuum device 2|. The vacuum device comprises a cylinder 2li having centrally disposed therein a diaphragm 25. The inner end of the rod 28 is connected to the dia- 20 phragm and centrally thereof and a compression spring 25 is interposed between said diaphragm and a connection 26 secured to the wall of the casing on the opposite side from said rod 20 and said connection has secured thereto the end of 25 a conduit 21 leading to the intake manifold of the engine. Obviously, upon starting of the engine, the diaphragm 25 will be flexed towards the connection 26, thereby moving the arm I9 through the medium of the rod 20 and which serves t0 30 raise the rear end of the carrier I8 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

When the motor vehicle engine is not running, depression of the clutch pedal will cause the sliding rod I1 to contact the roller 22 and cause the 35 the entire housing to move forward with the result that the arm 9 will shift the starter gear into mesh with the ring gear on the fly-wheel and to contact the starter switch I0 which will cause the starting motor to start. Immediately upon 40 operation of the starting motor, the vehicle engine starts and causes operation of the vacuum device 2l, which, as heretofore stated, operates the arm I9 and raises the free end of the carrier I8, which disposes the roller 22 out of the path 45 of the slidable rod II so that depression of the clutch pedal, while the motor is running, will not actuate the starting motor.

Arranged above the housing, is the lower end of a pivoted accelerator or rod 28, thelatter Vhav- 50 ing the upper end of a chain 29 attached thereto, the lower end of which is connected to the arm 9. Said lower end of the 'accelerator rod also has attached thereto the upper end of a coil spring 30, the lower end of which is connected by 55 a chain 3| to the arm '8. Obviously, when the arm 9 is shifted as heretofore described, the chain 29 will serve to operate the accelerator rod and device adapted for use in connection with thev clutch pedal and which, while the engine is running, will be disconnected relative to the starting motor.

It is also obvious that the invention is not conned to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be distinctly understood that ythe invention is not limited to the specic construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of thev principles of operation which are capable of extended application inv advance forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the Scope of the appended claims.

`VVhatIclaimis: ,l 1. A device of the character described, cbm,- prising,` a housing adapted to be pivotally don- ,nected to the operating leveifof a starting motor,-

a rod slidable in said housing and adapted be pivotally connected to an arm fixed on a clutch shaft of 'an engine, acarrier pivotally mounted on said housing, a roller carriedby said carrier and normally disposed in the path of saidfrod wherebyvoperation of said rod towardssaid carrierengages' said roller and causes movement of vfrom said housing.

said housing with said rod, means connected to said carrier and operable upon the starting of said engine to dispose said roller out of the path of said rod, and a member adapted to connect said lever to the accelerator of said engine for moving said accelerator to engine starting position upon movement of said lever by said housing.

2. In combination with a clutch shaft and an operating lever of a starting motor of a motor vehicle engine equipped with an accelerator, an arm fixed on said clutch shaft, a starting device, comprising, a housing pivotally connected to said lever, an element movable on said housing and connected to said arm for movement therewith,

v a member movably mounted on said housing and equipped with an abutment normally disposed in the path of said element whereby operation of said clutch shaft serves to operate said lever through the mediumof said housing, a vacuum device operable by said engine and connected to said member for disposing said abutment out of the path of y`said element upon starting of said engine whereby said clutch shaft is capable of operation without actuating said lever, and a memberponnecting said lever to said accelerator forjfrjioving the latter to enginestarting position upbr'i movement of said lever by said housing.

` structure dened in claim l'including,

.and` eans adapted/'to connect saidarm to said eator for movingsaid accelerator to engine dsition upon movement of said rod away ace said carrier. 4i.;S

4structure defined in Vclaim 2 including,

.rneafnf4 connecting said accelerator and said arm ,together for returning said accelerator to engine` idlingfposition upon'movement o'f said arm away 

